The groundbreaking account of the widespread misdiagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorderâand how its unchecked growth has made ADHD one of the most controversial conditions in medicine, with serious effects on children, adults, and society. âADHD Nation should be required readingâ (The New York Times Book Review).
More than one in seven American children are diagnosed with ADHDâthree times what experts have said is appropriateâmeaning that millions of kids are misdiagnosed and taking medications such as Adderall or Concerta for a psychiatric condition they probably do not have. The numbers rise every year. And still, many experts and drug companies deny any cause for concern. In fact, they say that adults and the rest of the world should embrace ADHD and that its medications will transform their lives.
âIn this powerful, necessary book, Alan Schwarz exposes the dirty secrets of the growing ADHD epidemicâ (Kirkus Reviews, starred review), including how the father of ADHD, Dr. Keith Conners, spent fifty years advocating drugs like Ritalin before realizing his role in what he now calls âa national disaster of dangerous proportionsâ; a troubled young girl and a studious teenage boy get entangled in the growing ADHD machine and take medications that backfire horribly; and big Pharma egregiously over-promotes the disorder and earns billions from the mishandling of children (and now adults).
While demonstrating that ADHD is real and can be medicated when appropriate, Schwarz sounds a long-overdue alarm and urges America to address this growing national health crisis. âADHD Nation is a necessary book. Schwarz has done a fine job on a maddening topic, and everyone whoâs interested in hyperactivity, attention spans, stimulants, and the current state of American health care should grab a copyâ (New York magazine).